Stockton Mini-Con to sink its 'Jaws' into holiday season

Monday

Dec 10, 2012 at 12:01 AMDec 10, 2012 at 11:27 AM

Spurred by the success of his first Stockton-Con, which drew 4,500 visitors to Spanos Center in August, organizer Mike Millerick is staging a smaller version, Stockton Holiday Mini-Con, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Ticket sales will begin at 9 a.m.

The Record

Spurred by the success of his first Stockton-Con, which drew 4,500 visitors to Spanos Center in August, organizer Mike Millerick is staging a smaller version, Stockton Holiday Mini-Con, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Ticket sales will begin at 9 a.m.

"It's just a show, not an event," Millerick explained. "There won't be any programs. We'll still have gift bags for the first 300 people."

And, actor Richard Kiel, well known as the villain "Jaws" in the James Bond films "Moonraker" and "The Spy Who Loved Me," will make an appearance.

"We were hoping to have him come to Stockton-Con next year, but it works out he'll be able to be here next week," Millerick said. "We're not doing a program, but he'll talk to people and be available for photos and autographs."

The mini-con provides an opportunity for Millerick to thank artists and vendors who participated in August, gives fans a chance to do some Christmas shopping, and helps raise money for St. Mary's Dining Room and the United Way. Tickets are $2, or $1 with the donation of a can of food, toy or article of clothing. There will be a silent auction to benefit those two organizations from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with collectible comic books, original and reprinted drawings, models, movie and television memorabilia, and toys available for bidding.

Stockton Holiday Mini-Con is intentionally scaled down from the summer event, when 64 vendors filled the arena's floor and another 50 lined the upper concourse.

Millerick hoped for 50 vendors, limited to the upper concourse, but when those slots filled up, he knew he'd have to put some on the floor.

"We want to impact the floor as little as possible," Millerick said.

Part of the reason for that is the staging of a University of the Pacific basketball game there against Santa Clara at 5 p.m. the night before.

As it is, a crew of volunteers will get to work immediately after the game to ready the Spanos Center for the comic crowd.

Millerick said he won't turn away anyone who wants to participate. With one event, Stockton has earned a favorable reputation among vendors and artists.

"I sent a note to vendors who'd been here to gauge their interest and we immediately had 30 to 40 interested," Millerick said. "A lot of people contacted us who didn't come to Stockton Con. There are some trickling in every day."